Three-dimensional nanotube electrode arrays for hierarchical tubular structured high-performance pseudocapacitors

Ordered three-dimensional (3-D) tubular arrays are highly attractive candidates for high performance pseudocapacitor electrodes. Here, we report 3-D fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) tubular arrays fabricated by a cost-effective ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method in anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) channels with high uniformity. The large surface area of such a structure leads to remarkable surface area enhancement up to 51.8 times compared to a planar structure. Combining with electrochemically deposited manganese dioxide (MnO2) nanoflakes on the inner side wall of the FTO nanotubes, the unique hierarchical tubular structured pseudocapacitor electrode demonstrated the highest areal capacitance of 193.8 mF cm(-2) at the scan rate of 5 mV s(-1) and 184 mF cm(-2) at the discharge current density of 0.6 mA cm(-2), which is 18.5 times that of a planar electrode. And it also showed a volumetric capacitance of 112.6 F cm(-3) at the scan rate of 5 mV s(-1) and 108.8 F cm(-3) at the discharge current density of 0.6 mA cm(-2). In addition, the cyclic stability test also indicated that a nanostructured pseudocapacitive electrode has a much larger capacitance retention after 3000 cycles of the charge-discharge process compared with a planar electrode, primarily due to the mechanical stability of the nanostructure. Moreover, pseudocapacitor device fabrication based on such electrodes shows the volumetric capacitance of 17.5 F cm(-3), and the highest specific energy of 1.56 × 10(-3) Wh cm(-3). With the merit of facile fabrication procedures and largely enhanced electrochemical performance, such a 3-D structure has high potency for energy storage systems for a wide range of practical applications.